Configuration: Novell NetWare V3.11

5 computers: 1 - DOS, 1 - Windows 3.1, 2 - Windows 95.

Windows 95 workstations are recent upgrades and we have been getting the following error message:

Link list in the table !COMPANIES*RETAIL*10:56:27 22 jAN 1988" is broke

Transactions cannot be properly flushed.

To correct this problem, please rebuild all the indexes in the table "COMPANIES"* RETAIL*10:56:27

After rebuilding all indexes for COMPANIES we got the error message again on two other tables.

What's going on!

Client32 version date 08/22/96 or 07/16/97 must be installed on the Windows95 stations.

The problem is due to 2 probelms with the win95 client for netware.

If the "disable write-behind caching for all drives" is not checked

(ie. turn off write - behind caching) you will most probably see these

errors as well as GFE in your files.

The second is because WIN95 does reliably keep correct record locking

tables with DOS sessions. AGain the result is usually GPF's but it could also be link list errors.

Solutions:

1. Turn off disk caching if you keep the WIN95 client.

2. Switch to the most recent version of Novell's Client32

 (the testing I have done with Client32 seems to indicate

  it is stable and does locking correctly.  But I would not 

  want to claim that it is a 100% fix, yet.)

 When using CLIENT32 I have set the CACHE WRITE=off and

 the File cache level to 1.

3. Install the network NLM from Revelation - (I have not done this

 (yet. It is sitting in the box.  But the urge to install it has  

  diminished since I have switched to CLient32 and not had 

  any GFE or link list problems.)

hope this helps

If those messages were accurate, meaning the one had time date and the other just had time, it looks like someone modified the media name and you'll have to rebuild all indexes or change it back. Optionally, you could hack the index records by hand, though it can get a bit complicated.

[email protected]

Sprezzatura, Inc.

Are you running Client32 (required)? Do you have the latest patches (today's). What version of AREV? DO NOT USE ANYTHING LESS THAN AREV 3.12 (not to be confused with Novell 3.12).

Get rid of Novell 3.11!!!! ASAP!!! Move to 3.12 and put this weeks patches on (312ptc.exe and a few others) 3.11 is a constant train wreck!

As mentioned elsewhere, turn off ALL TTS, run off caching on Win95 machines (yes, it slows them down, but the alternative is worse).

Turn off or reduce packet burst rates. Oh, yes, use SYSTEM.INI to limit your VCACHE (memory) and your disk cache.

OTOH, you could get a real Network system line WindowsNT 4.0 (that is said very much tongue-in-cheek! )

Larry Wilson

TARDIS Systems, Inc.

[email protected]

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